Business Ethics Issues Paper
Running head: Ethics Issues Paper
Ethics Issues Paper
Suzanne Clifton
University of Phoenix Online MGT 216: Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility
Facilitator: Kristy Lewkut
September 9, 2010
Ethics Issues Paper Ethics are a system of knowing right and wrong, and feeling that your actions taken fall into one category or the other. Sometimes the thin line between right and wrong is a bit hazy. In the corporate world ethics is known as business ethics. As defined by Crystal (2010), “Business ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world.” (para. 1). Business ethics also relate to the organization, their employees, and the surrounding community. Therefore, the ethics of each business may differ from that of another business, depending on the demographics of those involved. In the mid 1990’s, the parent company of Saks 5th Avenue, Saks Incorporated, revamped a sexual harassment policy in their corporate policies and procedures. This policy was not amended and announced to the corporate population in a matter of days, it was a long and careful process, to make sure the policy was in the best interest of all involved. Once the policy was approved at the corporate level, it was distributed to the satellite offices, including the one in NJ. The policy was handed to all employees by the Human Resources (HR) manager on-site, and via notes within paychecks. Also, extensive trainings within the site, ran by the HR manger, included all employees as a requirement. This institution of the new sexual harassment policy did not stop all cases of harassment within the workplace, for this site and the corporation. However, it most likely did make a majority of the employees re-think some of their own actions taken on a daily basis. Customer relations are so important to the welfare of a business; good customer service could be the tie that binds a company with their clients. One factor that
Ethics Issues Paper
Suzanne Clifton
University of Phoenix Online MGT 216: Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility
Facilitator: Kristy Lewkut
September 9, 2010
Ethics Issues Paper Ethics are a system of knowing right and wrong, and feeling that your actions taken fall into one category or the other. Sometimes the thin line between right and wrong is a bit hazy. In the corporate world ethics is known as business ethics. As defined by Crystal (2010), “Business ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world.” (para. 1). Business ethics also relate to the organization, their employees, and the surrounding community. Therefore, the ethics of each business may differ from that of another business, depending on the demographics of those involved. In the mid 1990’s, the parent company of Saks 5th Avenue, Saks Incorporated, revamped a sexual harassment policy in their corporate policies and procedures. This policy was not amended and announced to the corporate population in a matter of days, it was a long and careful process, to make sure the policy was in the best interest of all involved. Once the policy was approved at the corporate level, it was distributed to the satellite offices, including the one in NJ. The policy was handed to all employees by the Human Resources (HR) manager on-site, and via notes within paychecks. Also, extensive trainings within the site, ran by the HR manger, included all employees as a requirement. This institution of the new sexual harassment policy did not stop all cases of harassment within the workplace, for this site and the corporation. However, it most likely did make a majority of the employees re-think some of their own actions taken on a daily basis. Customer relations are so important to the welfare of a business; good customer service could be the tie that binds a company with their clients. One factor that
References: Crystal, G. (2010). What is Business Ethics. Wise Geek. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-ethics.htm US Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html